Shi Xingwu returned to Xia Qingtian's room, dripping wet, startling everyone.
"Shi Xingwu, what happened to you?" Xia Qingyu exclaimed in surprise. "Didn't you go to embarrass Bai Shao in the pool? How come it looks like you jumped in yourself?"
"Oh, Bai Shao's leg cramped, so I fished him back," Shi Xingwu chuckled. "It's fine, I was feeling really hot, so cooling my head off was good."
"Qingyu, get him a bath towel to dry himself, don't let him catch a cold," Xia Qingtian immediately called out.
Xia Qingyu responded and quickly brought a bath towel for Shi Xingwu.
"Thank you, Goddess, thank you, Goddess sister," Shi Xingwu grinned, took the towel, wiped his wet hair, and then draped it over his shoulders.
Just as the ship's doctor finished examining Lei Xirui, Gu Yaoyang had the doctor check Shi Xingwu as well. Knowing Shi Xingwu was fine, he had the doctor prepare some medicine for him as a precaution.
They were still sailing at sea, and if anything serious happened, it would be difficult to handle.
After the ship's doctor agreed, he left.
When the door closed, Gu Yaoyang asked, "How is Bai Yuqi?"
"I don't know, he should be fine," Shi Xingwu thought for a moment and said, "He swallowed a few mouthfuls of water, probably just needs a hot shower when he gets back."
"It's good that he's alright." The others also breathed a sigh of relief.
"Bai Shao is a good person, it's just his mouth..." Xia Qingtian gave a helpless wry smile.
"He's been beaten up countless times because of that mouth since he was a child, suffering losses openly and secretly, but he just can't change," Gu Yaoyang shook his head helplessly. "I don't think he'll ever change it in this lifetime."
The two could only share a knowing smile at this point.
"Siri sister, how are you?" Shi Xingwu leaned in close to Lei Xirui and asked softly.
"I'm fine." Lei Xirui looked at Shi Xingwu, noticing how his clothes were still clinging to him, wet. With just a bath towel draped over him, it seemed to reveal more than conceal. She suddenly didn't know where to look, and her cheeks felt a little hot. "I..."
"Your face is so red," Shi Xingwu stared at Lei Xirui's face and said, "Is your wound inflamed, and you're having a fever?"
"The doctor said before there were no signs of inflammation," Xia Qingyu said in surprise from the side, reaching out to feel Lei Xirui's forehead. "It does feel a little warm."
"I..." Hearing this, the blush on Lei Xirui's cheeks spread all the way to her neck, her delicate earlobes turning red. She looked helplessly at Xia Qingtian. "Qingtian sister..."
She was fine, she just didn't know where to direct her gaze, and with her heart beating a little faster and her body temperature rising slightly, she was fine, she was really fine.
"Shi Xingwu, you just came in from outside, you're full of cold. Don't tell me it's because of you that she got chilled," Xia Qingtian immediately said. "You should go back and take a hot shower, take your medicine, and get some rest."
"Okay, I'll head back then." Shi Xingwu only realized it then. He grinned at Lei Xirui and headed out. Just as he reached the door, he ran into Li Xiaozhong, who was returning. They walked away chatting and laughing. "Li Xiaozhong, where were you?"
"I went to the deck to look at the stars," Li Xiaozhong replied casually.
"Heh, quite romantic."
...
After Shi Xingwu and Li Xiaozhong left, Xia Qingyu helped Lei Xirui back to her room to rest.
Although she wanted to keep her sister company for a little longer, Lei Xirui's condition meant it was best for her to rest first.
She had been badly frightened that night.
Only Xia Qingtian and Gu Yaoyang were left in the room. Gu Yaoyang sat down next to Xia Qingtian and asked softly, "Did you strain your wound?"
"I'm fine," Xia Qingtian smiled faintly. "I never expected Xirui to sneak onto the ship. It's a good thing she's not one of Xiang Xueyuan's people."
"Yes," Gu Yaoyang agreed and smiled as well. "Third Young Master Lei must be going crazy."
"He deserves it," Xia Qingtian said indignantly. "Xirui is such a good girl, and Third Young Master Lei doesn't know how to cherish her at all, dictating her future. I warned him before!"
"He's been self-willed since he was young, stubborn and unyielding," Gu Yaoyang sighed deeply. "However, he truly cares about Xirui. Thinking about it now, perhaps his methods were wrong."
"What do you plan to do?" Xia Qingtian asked Gu Yaoyang.
"I'll try to contact him somehow, at least let him know Xirui is safe." Gu Yaoyang said, otherwise, if Third Young Master Lei continued to search blindly, he might cause even more trouble.
"Xirui doesn't want to go back for now. You..." Xia Qingtian was also worried that if Third Young Master Lei pressured Lei Xirui too much, it might drive the girl to do something foolish.
"Don't worry." Gu Yaoyang had considered what Xia Qingtian was thinking. "I won't tell him Lei Xirui's whereabouts."
Right now, Third Young Master Lei was playing with fire. If he continued to act recklessly, he might even implicate Lei Xirui, and the consequences would be unthinkable.
"Mm." Xia Qingtian thought for a moment before saying, "By the way, Third Young Master Lei also mentioned some secret before, saying that only he in the entire Lei family knew it, and Xirui didn't."
"I have no clue about that," Gu Yaoyang frowned slightly. "When we reach shore, I'll have someone investigate it."
"Okay." Xia Qingtian nodded.
"We'll deal with future matters later," Gu Yaoyang kissed Xia Qingtian's forehead. "You need to rest and recover properly. Once you're better, we'll likely have a tough battle ahead of us."
Xia Qingtian knew who Gu Yaoyang was referring to, smiled faintly, and nodded with determination in her eyes. "This time it's our home turf, and it's time we properly host him!"
"Mm." Gu Yaoyang held Xia Qingtian's hand tightly, and they smiled at each other.
After that, the days on the ship passed peacefully.
Xia Qingtian and Lei Xirui's bodies gradually improved.
Bai Yuqi, who was supposed to be serving tea and water to Lei Xirui, had been confined to bed after being thrown into the pool and exposed to the cold wind. By the time Xia Qingtian could get out of bed and walk around, Bai Yuqi was still in a sorry state, looking as if she was at death's door.
For a while, it was unclear who was more seriously injured, Xia Qingtian or Bai Yuqi.
Fortunately, with Shi Xingwu, the lively troublemaker on board, the days didn't feel too monotonous.
Xia Honglang also had a rare opportunity to spend quiet time with his wife and daughter, and his spirits seemed much better.
Aunt Liu, who had been anxious and weak in Finland, also smiled more often.
Everything seemed to be developing in a better direction.
It wasn't until their ship finally reached the port of City Z that they learned Xiang Xueyuan had already arrived in City Z ahead of them.
He had already set up an entire trap, inviting them to walk right into it.